Circular-knitting machine.



0.694.382. C Patented Mar. 4, I902.-

' H.'A. HOUSEMAN. I

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 18, 1901.)

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No. 694,382. Patented Marl4. I902 A. HOUSEMAN. v

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Applicatioh filed Apr. 18, 1901.

(No Model.) 5 Shank-Sheet 2.

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' H; A. HOUSEMAN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

. (Application filed Apr. 18, 1901.) (No Model.) 5 Shets-8heet 4.

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Patented Mar. 4, i902.

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UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFrIcE.

HARRY A. IIoUsEMAN, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARDMACHINE ooMPANY, A coRPoRATIoN or PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,382, dated March 4,1902.

Application filed April 18, 1901. Serial No. 56,348. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRYA. HOUSEMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inCircular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, andexactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a IO part of this specification.

My invention has for its object the production of a stocking which atthe apex of the heel and toe portions shall have a difierentcoloredthread from that of the remainder of the heel and toe.

My invention consists, speaking broadly, in providing mechanism whichshall during the reciprocation of the machine in forming the heel or toeautomatically change the thread-carrier, so that at the apex of the heelor toe a different-colored thread from that of the remainder of the heelor toe may be introduced.

I will first describe the embodiment of my invention as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and then specifically point out the inventionin the claims.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a knitting-machine cylinder with my improveddevice at- 0 tached. Fig. 2 is a side View of the same. Fig. 3 is afront view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail rear view of the cam-plateandconnections for raising the thread-carrier cams. Fig. 5 is a detailsection on the line 5 5 of 5 Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of thethread-carriers. A Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are diagrams showing the operationof the threadcarriers. Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10 10 of Fig. 3.Fig. 11 is a plan view of the rack-plates with all the needles inaction.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the rack-plate with thepivoted raising-cam attached. Fig. 13 is a diagram of a portion of astocking, showing a partially-colored 5 heel and toe.

The machine in which I have embodied this invention is that patented tome April 30, 1895, No. 538,518.

In this specification and in the accompany- 5o ing drawings I willneither describe nor illustrate the details of construction of themachine, but will merely illustrate and describe such parts thereof asare necessary to an understanding of this invention.

A is a portion of the main frame of the machine; B, the cam-cylindersupport; 0, the. cam-cylinder; D, the needle-cylinder.

E E are the rackplates, which in accordance with my patent beforementioned are in operation during the formation of the heel and toe forthe purpose of automatically. throwing out and in certain needles forthe purpose of producing the heel or toe ofastocking. These rack-platesare respectively operated by the pawls e e, as in my previous patent.The pawls e e are pivoted to the arms e 6 respectively, which arms areattached to the ring a. As in my previous patent, the ring e has theprojecting arms 6 having rollers 6 operated by the cams F, which camsare given a reciprocating motion at the proper time by the gear X andrack 00, which rack and gear also reciprocate the cam-cylinder duringthe formation of the heel and toe, as fully disclosed in my previouspatent before mentioned. Connected to this ring 6 is an arm G. V Thisarm G during the reciprocating work of the machine by the ring e isgiven a constantly-reciprocating movement.

H is a cam-plate pivoted to the frame h, secured to the frame of themachine. Within this cam-plate H and vertically movable therein is theslide 71., having at opposite sides and different elevations projectionsk h The lever G in its reciprocation will strike either projection h orprojection h dependent upon the position of the slide 72, and thus movethe cam-plate H in one direction or the other. On the side of thecam-plate II is the high 0 cam surface H and low cam-surface H Uponthese cam-surfaces rests the end of the vertically-movable plunger I.The lower end of this plunger I is beveled, as at 2'. When the cam-plateH is moved in one direction 5 through the action of the arm G upon theprojection 71. the plunger is carried from the low portion H to the highportion H, and when the cam-plate moves in the opposite direction theplunger will by gravity descend to the low portion or surface H It willthus be seen that, dependent upon the position of Cam I is at a higherlevel than cam 1 k Theface of each cam has a out-away portion 6 6respectively. The portion 2 of the cam I is at the oppositeend of thelength and heightfrom that of the portion 2' of the caml are the twothread carriers proper. The thread-carrier J is the one normally inaction, and the thread-carrier J is the one to beused to introduce thespecial thread at the heel-or toe apex." Thesethread-carriers aremovable in frame J The thread-carrier J is fixedly attachcdto the leverJ pivoted at- J and having a rolle'rJ atthe opposite end from the threadcarrier. The thread-carrier J is pivotally' attached to the lever Jwhich lever J is pivoted to the frame at J". Beyond this pivotpoint isconnected'one arm of the I operation.

bell-crank'J the other end of the bell-crank carrying the roller J Asmay be seen, if a horizon-talrmovement in the same direction be given tothe'rollers J and J the threadcarriers J- and J-will he oppositelymovedto move one-into, the other out of, operative position. Theserollers J and J 9 are at differentlevels and,in the operation of themachine, when the plunger I is in the low cam-surface H are influencedby two cam-surfaces of the cam 1 When the plunger I is elevated, (which,as will hereinafter be described, is accomplished automatically at thedesired pointin the formation of the heel or toe,) the cams Valid 1 areelevated and the upper surface-of cam I influences the roller J 5 andthe lower surface of said cam influences the roller J". 'The arrangementof the cam-surfaces I? and l are such that when the cams are-elevatedand rollers J and J moving in the direction efarrow, Fig. 1,- in passingbetween-these cams for a portion of the passage no elfect'will beproduced upon the roller J or its corresponding thread-carrier J due tothe cut-away portion 2' but the high portions. of cam I will act uponthe roller J 9 and its corresponding thread-carrier J to move itdownward into operative position. Thus for a time both thread-carrierswill be in The further movement will maintain the thread-carrier J inoperative position and the end of the cut-away portion 0' having beenreached the upper surfaceof the cam I will withdraw the thread-carrier Jfrom oper ation. When the cams I and I are brought to their low positionand the rollers J5 and J moving in the reverse direction, the reverseoperation takes place-that is, the roller J 5 travels over the upperportion'of cam 1 and the thread-carrier J is broughtinto operation. Thethread-carrier J by means of 'the'cut away portion i of the lowerportion of cam I is maintained in operation until it passes be= yond thecut-away portion t when the threadcarrier J is by the lower portion-ofcam 1 withdrawn from action.

From the foregoing it will thethread-carriers J and J can be thrown intoand out of action only during reciprocation that is, while machine ismaking the heel or toe-as the shift of the cam I and I are dependentupon the movement of the cam-- plate H, which in-turn is dependent uponthe movement of the arm G, which is operated only during reciprocation.The cams I and I are each,'in efiect, two cams, each cam I and. 1 havingportions acting on rollers J and'J but the cut-away portions 2' 2' causethe cams to operate upon one roller, the one controlling the carrier tobe thrown into action in advance of the operation upon the rollercontrolling the carriers to be thrown out of action.

I provide the followingmechanism for shifting the plate 71. at theproper time during reciprocation to 'cut in and out at'the proper timethe special thread-carrier J. Upon the plate It is the pink.

K is a'lever having a slotted end embracing'the pin 70. The lever K ispivoted to a projection is on the frame of the machine.-

At the end of the lever opposite to the pin it is connected theplungerL. The plunger L extends vertically through the frame of the machine andhas on its upper surfacethe projecting head- L. Secured to the rackplateE so as to be adjustable thereon is the plate M, having at its outer endthe inclinedcam-plate m. The cam-plate m is pivoted to the plate M, soas to be capable of moving inward, andis held normally in its outwardposition by means of a spring m; "The lowest point of the inclinedcant-plate is such as to pass under theprojectin g head L whenthe-plunger L isat its lowest point, and thev highest point of thecam-plates m M are such as to raise the plungerL'a distance sufficientto lowerw the plate h to bring the'projection' h under the influence ofthe lever G. Thus when the plunger L is in its elevated position,supported upon the top of the plates mand M, the special thread-carrierJ is thrown into action, and when the plunger is free from the plates mM the special thread-carrier J is thrown out of action. The plunger L isacted'upon by the inclined cam-plate m during the'movement of therack-plate in forn1- ing the first part of the heel or toe, and'byadjusting the plate M with reference tothe rack-plate E the specialthread-carrier J may be introduced at the desired point in the formationof the heel or toe. When the rack the rack-plate will move in theopposite direction to widen out to form the remainder of the heel ortoe, and when in this operation be'apparent thatmovement of therack-plate E in advance ofnarrowed-the needles are again one by onethrown into action before the knitting-cam acts. As aconsequence and inorder to make the use of the special thread symmetrical on both sides ofthe apex it is necessary that the plunger L should be released at apoint in the that which inthe reverse movement of the cam-plate theplunger was operated upon by the cam-plate. It is for this reason thatthe cam-plate m is pivoted to the plate M, as described. In the path ofmovement of the plate m is a pawl 0, inoperative in one directionofmovement of the plate-the forwardmovement-and operative in the otherdirection of movement of theplatee-to wit, the re-' turn movement.

By'this construction when in the return movement of the rack-plate. the

plate m strikes the pawl O it'(the plate) is. moved out of line ofmovementqof the head- L of the plunger L, and the plunger Ljdescends.This enables the descent of the plunger L and the consequent removal ofthe special thread-carrier to take place in advance of the point whereit was elevated by. the action of the plate m. By varying the extentof-the projection of the plates M m beyond the rack-plate E the point atwhich in the formation of the heel and, toe the special thread will bethrown in and out may be varied. As may be seen bythis construction,

when the machine is forming the. heelan'd toe at any desired pointtherein a special thread-carrier is. automatically thrown into action.Both the special and regular threadcarriers are in action for a fewneedles. Then the regular thread-carrier is thrown out of action. Thenat the corresponding point in the widening the regular thread-carrier isagain thrown into action, and finally the special thread-carrieristhrown out of action.- As may be seen by reference to Figs. 7, 8, and 9,the regular thread-carrier J and. the special thread-carrier J are sideby side in the frame J The position ofthe thread-carrier J is such thatit occupies when down a position in direct alinement with the needlesand at.

the center of the knitting-cams. I have devised mechanism whereby whenthe special thread-carrier is in operative position and the center ofthe knitting-cams. The lever J 6 ofthe thread-"carrier -J-is--made intwo parts. Each of these parts has at its end an orifice. In oneof theorifices-thatin the inner part of the-lever J is placed a pin;j whichhas a threadedend. This threadedqendcoacts with a thread on the interiorof'th-e otherof said orifices. The spring j? tends to turnthe outer;part; of the: lever onthis screw, and thus move the end of the-carrier J'throughwhich the thread passes laterally, as shown in Fig. 9. When thetwothread-carriersare in. action, Fig. 8, the thread-.carriersrJ-J 00-.When the. thread-carrier J is elevated,'the spring j .Wlll

cupy=the position there shown.

cause the lower end of the carrier J to move inwardandassumethe'position shown in Fig. 9. When the thread-carrier J moves down, itwillovercome-the action of the spring.

j forcing the lower end of the lever J .into the position shown'in Fig;8.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a-circular-knitting machine, incombination a :main. threadcarriernormally in action and a supplemental threadmarriernor mally' out ofaction and needle-controlling mechanismto render certain needlesinoperative and operative in a regular sequence .to' form the heel andtoe of'a stocking, interme-* diate devicesoperated by saidneedle-controlling mechanism after said operation com-:-

thread-carrier into action and the-supple mental,threadrcarrier-out ofaction. w r

2. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination a main thread-carriernormally in action and a supplemental thread-carrier normally-out ofaction andneedle -controlling.

mechanism to render certain needl es-inoper'- ative and operative in aregular sequence to form the heel and toe of a stocking, inter-' to thetermination of the movement of said needle=controlling mechanism toreturn the main thread carrier into action and subsequently remove thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action.

3. In a circular-knitting machine, in com bination a rack-plate adaptedin its movement'in one direction to move certain needles out of actionin a regular sequence and in .the movement in the other directiontoreturnsaidneedles'into action, a main thread carrier normally in actionand a supplemen tal thread-carrier n-ormally'out of action, in--termediate devices operated by the rack-plateinterm'ediate of itsoperation in onedirection:

of its movement to move the supplemental &

thread'carrier into operative positionand the main thread-carrier out ofoperative position and intermediate of its operation in the otherdirection of its movement to return the main thread-carrier out ofoperative position.

4. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination a rack-plate adaptedintermediate of its movement in one direction to move certain needlesout of action in a regular sequence and in the movement in the otherdirection to return said needles into action, a main thread-carriernormally in action and a supplemental thread-carrier normally out ofaction, intermediate devices operated by the rack-plate intermediate ofits movement in one direction to move the supplemental threadcarrierinto operative position and subsequently to move the main thread-carrierout of operative position and intermediate of itsmovement in the otherdirection to return the main thread-carrier into action and move thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action.

5. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination a main thread-carriernormally in action and a supplemental thread-carrier normally out ofaction, a cam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate the cam-cylinder andmechanism operated during the reciprocation of anism operated during thereciprocation of said cam-cylinder to bring the supplementalthread-carrier into action after one or more courses have been knit andmove the main thread-carrier out of action, and subsequently to returnthe main thread-carrier into action and move the supplementalthread-carrier out of action.

7. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, a cam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate thecam-cylinder and mechanism operated during the reciprocation of saidcam-cylinder to bring the supplemental thread-carrier into action afterone or more courses have been. knit, and subsequently to move the mainthread-carrier out of action. 1

8. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination Witha mainthread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, a cam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate thecam-cylinder and mechanism operated during the reciprocation of said camcylinder to bring the supplemental thread-carrier into action after oneor more courses have been knit, and subsequently to move the mainthread-carrier out of action, and subsequently to move said mainthread-carrier again into action and subsequently to move supplementalthread-carrier out of action.

9. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally.

in action and a supplemental thread-carrier normally out of action, of acam adapted to throw the supplemental thread-carrier into action, a camfor throwing the main threadcarrier out of action, a cam-cylinder, meansto reciprocate the cam-cylinder of said machine and mechanism operatedduring said reciprocation after one or more courses have been knit tomove said cams in line of movement of the thread-carriers.

10. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental carrier normallyout of action, of a cam adapted to throw the supplemental thread-carrierinto action, a cam for throwing-the main thread-carrier out of action, acam-cylinder, means to reciprocate the cam-cylinder of said machine andmeans to move said cams in line of movement of the thread-carriersduring said reciprocation after one or more courses have been knit, thesupplementalthread-carrier cam bein g in advance of themain-thread-carrier cam, whereby the supplemental thread-carrier isthrown into action before the main threadcarrier is moved out of action.

11. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a cam adapted to throw the supplementalthread-carrier into action, a cam for throwing the main threadcarrierout of action, a cam-cylinder, means to reciprocate the cam-cylinder ofsaid machine, a cam for returning the main'threadcarrier into action andthe supplemental thread-carrier out of action and means during saidreciprocation after one or more courses have been knit to first move thefirst set of cams into line of movement of the thread-carriers andsubsequently return said first set of cams and move said second set ofcams into line of movement of said threadcarrier.

12. Ina circular-knitting machine, in com bination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action and a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a cam adapted to throw the supplementalthread-carrier into action, a cam for throwing the main threadcarrierout of action, a cam-cylinder, means to reciprocate the cam-cylinder ofsaid machine, cams for returning the main threadcarrier into action andthe supplemental thread-carrier out of action and means during saidreciprocation after one or more courses have been knit to first move thefirst set of cams into line of movement of the thread-carriers andsubsequently return said first set of cams and move said second set 0tcams into line of movement of said threadcarriers, the supplemental-tln'ead-carrier cam being in advance of themain-thread-carrier cam in the first set of cams and vice versa in thesecond set of cams.

13. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination With a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one ofsaid last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the mainthreadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier intoaction, said second pair of cams being in a different position from thefirst-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a cam-cylinder andmeans to reciprocate the cam-cylinder, and means during thereciprocation of the cam-cylinder after one or more courses have beenknit to move the first-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement ofthe thread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams into line ofmovement of the threadcarriers.

l-LL. In a circular-knitting machine, in con1 bination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and thesupplemental threadcarrier out of action, a second pair of cams, one ofsaid last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the mainthread-carrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier intoaction, said second pair of cams being in a different position from thefirst-mentioned set of cams, the firstmen'tioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a camcylinder andmeans to reciprocate the camcylinder, and means during the reciprocationof the cam-cylinder after one or more courses have been knit to move thefirst-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement of thethread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams in line of movementof the threadcarriers, and subsequently to reverse the position of saidsets of cams.

15. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one ofsaid last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the mainthreadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier intoaction, said second pair of cams being in a different position from thefirst-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, themainthread-carrier cam of the first set of cams being in advance of thesupplemental-threadcarrier cam and vice versa in the second set of cams,a cam-cylinder, means to reciprocate said cam-cylinder, and means duringthe reciprocation of the cam-cylinder after one or more courses havebeen knit to move the first-mentioned set of cams out of line ofmovement of the thread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams inline of movement of the thread-carriers.

16. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one ofsaid last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the mainthreadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier intoaction said second pair of cams beinginadiffereut position from thefirstmentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, themain-threadcarrier cam of the first set of cams being in advance of thesupplemental-thread-carrier cam and vice versa in the second set ofcams, a cam cylinder, means to reciprocate said cam-cylinder, and meansduring the reciprocation of the cam-cylinder after one or more courseshave been knit to move the firstmentioned set of cams out of line ofmovement of the thread-carriers and the secondmentioned set of cams intoline of movement of the thread-carriers, and subsequently to reverse theposition of said sets of cams.

17. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one ofsaid last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the mainthread-carrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier intoaction said second pair of cams being in a different position from thefirst-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, needle-controllingmechanism to render certain needles inoperative and operative in aregular sequence to form the heel and toe of a stocking, intermediatedevices operated byvsaid needle-controlling mechanism, to move thefirst-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement with thethread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams in line of movementwith the thread-carriers.

18. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one ofsaid lastanentioned set of cams being adapted to move the mainthread-carrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier intoaction said second pair of cams beingin adifferentposition from thefirstmentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, needle-controllingmechanism to render certain needles inoperative and operative in aregular sequence to form the heel and toe of a stocking, intermediatedevices operated by said needle-controlling mechanism, to move thefirst-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement with thethread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams into line of,movement with the thread-carriers, and subtal thread-carrier out ofaction, a second pair of cams one of said last-mentioned set of camsbeing adapted to move the main thread-carrier out of action and thesupplemental thread-carrier into action, said second pair of cams beingin a different position from the first-mentioned set of cams, thefirst-mentioned setof cams being normally in line of movement of thethread-carriers, the mainthread-carrier cam of the first set of camsbeing in advance of the supplemental-threadcarrier cam and vice versa inthe second set of cams, needle-controlling mechanism to render certainneedles inoperative and operative in a regular sequence to form the heeland toe of a stocking, intermediate devices operated by saidneedle-controlling mechanism, to move the first-mentioned set of camsout of line of movement with the thread-carriers and thesecond-mentioned set of cams into line of movement with thethread-carriers.

20. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams oneofsaid last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the mainthreadcarrier out of action, and the supplemental thread-carrier intoaction said second pair of cams being in a different position from thefirst-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread carriers, themainthread-carrier cam of the first set of cams being in advance of thesupplemental-threadcarrier cam and vice versa in the second set of cams,needle-controlling mechanisms to render certain needles inoperative andoperative in a regular sequence to form the heel and toe of a stocking,intermediate devices operated by said needle-controlling mechanism, tomove the first-mentioned set of cams out of line of movement with thethread-carriers and the second-mentioned set of cams in line of movementWith the thread-carriers, and subsequently to reverse the position ofsaid sets of cams. I I

21. In a circular-knitting machine, in com bination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one ofsaid last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the mainthreadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier intoaction, said second pair of cams being in a difierent position from thefirst-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a rack-plateadapted in its movement in one direction to move certain needles out ofaction in a regular sequence and in the movement in the other directionto return said needles into action, of intermediate devices operated inone direction of movement by the rack-plate to move the first-mentionedset of cams out of line of movement of the thread-carriers and thesecond-mentioned set of cams into line of movement or" saidthread-carriers and in the other direction of movement to reverse thepositions of said sets of cams.

22. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one ofsaid last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the mainthreadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier intoaction, said second pair of cams being ina different position from thefirst-mentioned set of cams, the first mentioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a rack-plateadapted in its movement in one direction to move certain needles out ofactionin a regular sequence and in the movement in the other directionto return said needles into action, of intermediate devices operated inone direction of movement by the rack-plate to move the first-mentionedset of cams out of line of movement of the thread-carriers and thesecond-mentioned set of cams in line of movement of said thread-carriersand in the other direction of movement to reverse the positions of saidsets of cams, the mainthread-carrier cam of the first set of cams beingin advance of the supplemental-threadcarrier cam and vice versa in thesecond set of cams.

23. In a circular-knitting machine in com-' bination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pairof cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and the supplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one ofsaidlast-mentioned set ofcams being adapted to move the main thread-carrierout of action and the supplemental threadbarrier into action,said secondpair of cams being in a different position from the first-mentioned setof cams, the first-mentioned set of cams being normally in line ofmovement of the thread-carriers, a plunger carryingsaid cams, a pivotedcam-plate having cam-surfaces at different levels, said plungerdependent upon the position of the cam-plate resting upon one or theother of said surfaces, a vertically-movable slide having projectionsfrom opposite sides at different levels, a cam-cylinder mechanism toreciprocate the cam-cylinder, a lever and connection between saidcam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, said movable slide being in lineofmovement of said lever, and mechanism adapted during the reciprocationof said cam-cylinder to move said slide in one direction.

24. In a circular-knitting machinein combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one ofsaid last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the mainthread-carrier out of action and the supplemental threadcarrier intoaction, said second pair of cams being in a difierent position from thefirstmentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a plunger carryingsaid cams, a pivoted cam-plate having cam-surfaces at different levels,said plunger dependent upon the position of the cam-plate resting uponone or the other of said surfaces, a vertically-movable slide havingprojections from opposite sides at different levels, a camcylindermechanism to reciprocate the camcylinder, a lever and connection betweensaid cam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, said movable slide being inline of'movement of said lever, and mechanism adapted during thereciprocation of said cam-cylinder to move said slide in one direction,and subsequently return said slide to its initial position.

25. In a circular-knitting machinein combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams, one ofsaid last-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the mainthreadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrier intoaction, said second pair of cams being in a different position from thefirst-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a plunge-r carryingsaid cams, a pivoted cam-plate hav ing cam -surfaoes at differentlevels, said plunger dependent upon the position of the cam-plateresting upon one or the other of said surfaces, a vertically-movableslide having projections from opposite sides at (lifterent levels, acam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate the cam-cylinder, a lever andconnection between said cam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, saidmovable slide being in line of movement of saidlever, needle-controllingmechanism to render certain needles inoperative and operative inaregular sequence during said reciprocation, intermediate devicesoperated by said needle controlling mechanism to move said slide in onedirection.

26. In a circular-knitting machine in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormallyout of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams being operative tomove the main thread-carrier into action and the supplementalthread-carrier out of action, a second loo first-mentioned set of camsbeing normally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a plungercarrying said cams, a pivotedcamplate having cam-surfaces at differentlevels, said plunger dependent upon the position of the cam-plateresting upon one or the other of said surfaces, a vertically-movableslide having projections from opposite sides at difierent levels, acam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate the cam-cylinder, a lever andconnection between said cam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, saidmovable slide being in line of movement of said lever, needlecontrollingmechanism to render certain needles inoperative and operative in aregular sequence during said reciprocation, intermediate devicesoperated by said needle-controlling mechanism to move said slide in onedirection and subsequently-return said slide to its initial position.

27. In a circular-knitting machine in combination With a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrierinto action and thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams one ofsaid last-mentioned 'set of cams being adapted to move the mainthreadcarrier out of action and the supplemental thread-carrierintoaction, said second pair of cams being in a different position from thefirst-mentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread-carriers, a plunger carryingsaid cams, a pivoted cam-plate having cam-surfaces at different levels,said plunger dependent upon the position of the cam-plate resting uponone or the other of said surfaces, a vertically-movable slide havingprojections from opposite sides at different levels, a cam-cylindermechanism to reciprocate the cam-cylinder, a lever and connectionbetween said cam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, said movable slidebeing in line of movement of said lever, a rackplate adapted in itsmovement in one direction to move certain needles out of action in aregular sequence and in the movement in the other direction to returnsaid needles into action, intermediate devices operated by therack-plate in one direction of its movement to move said slide in onedirection and in the other direction of its movement to return the slideto its initial position.

28. In a circular-knitting machine in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action,ofa pair of cams,one ofsaid cams being operativeto move the main threadcarrier into action and the supplementalthread-carrier out of action, a second pair of cams, one of saidlast-mentioned set of cams being adapted to move the main thread-carrierout of action and the supplemental threadcarrier into action, saidsecond pair of cams being in a different position from thefirstmentioned set of cams, the first-mentioned set of cams beingnormally in line of movement of the thread-carrier, a plunger carryingsaid cams, a pivoted cam-plate having cam-surfaces at different levels,said plunger dependent upon the position of the cam-plate resting uponone or the other of said surfaces, a vertically-movable slide havingprojections from opposite sides at different levels, a camcylindermechanism to reciprocate the camcylinder, a lever and connection betweensaid cam-cylinder mechanism and the lever, said movable slide being inline of movement of said lever, a lever connected to said slide, aplunger having a projecting head connected to said last-mentioned lever,a rack-plate having an inclined cam adapted in the movement of therack-plate to pass under said head and move said plunger.

29. In a circular-knitting machine, in combination with a mainthread-carrier normally in action, a supplemental thread-carriernormally out of action, of a pair of cams, one of said cams beingoperative to move the main thread-carrier into action and thesupplemental thread-carrier out of action, a second pair of camsconnected together one of said last-mentioned set of cams being adaptedto move the main thread-carrier out of action and the supplementalthread-carrier into action, said second pair of cams being in adifferent position from the first-mentioned set of cams, thefirst-mentioned set of cams being normally in line of movement of thethreadcarriers, a plunger carrying said cams, a pivoted cam-plate havingcam-surfaces at different levels, said plunger dependent upon theposition of the cam-plate resting upon one or the other of saidsurfaces,a vertically-movable slide having projections from oppositesides at different levels, a cam-cylinder mechanism to reciprocate thecam-cylinder, a lever and connection between said cam-cylinder mechanismand the lever, said movable slide being in line of movement of saidlever, a lever connected to said slide, a plunger having a projectinghead connected to said lastmentioned lever, a rack-plate, an inclinedcam pivotally connected thereto, and adapted in the movement of therack-plate in one direction to pass under said head and move saidplunger, a pawl attached to the frame of the machine operative in onedirection, in line of movement of said inclined cam and adapted whenoperative to move said inclined cam laterally and a spring to returnsaid inclined cam to its initial position.

30. In combination, a thread-carrierframe, two thread-carriers supportedin said frame side by side, one of said thread-carriers having a pivotedoperative portion adapted to move toward the other carrier and a springtending to move said pivoted portion in that direction.

31. In combination, a thread-carrier frame, two thread-carrierssupported in said frame side by side, one of said thread-carriers havinga portion adapted to move toward the other carrierand aspring tending tomove said movable portion in that direction.

In combination, a thread-carrier frame, two thread-carriers supported insaid frame, side by side, one of said thread-carriers having a portionadapted to move toward the other carrier.

33. In combinatiomtwo thread-carriersand means to move said carriers inand out of operative position, one of said carriers having a portionadapted when said carrier is in operative position to move into theoperative position of the other carrier when the lastmentioned carrieris out of operative position.

34. In combination,t wo thread-carriers and means to move said carriersin and out of operative position, one'of said carriers being adaptedwhen said carrier is in operative po sition to move into the operativeposition of the other carrier when the last-mentioned carrier is out ofoperative position.

35. In combination, two thread-carriers, means to move said carriers inand out of operative position, and means to retain both IIO saidthread-carriers simultaneously in operahereunto set my hand, atPhiladelphia, on tion, one of said carriers beingadapted'when this 9thday of April, 1901. said carrier is in operative position to move 1 intothe operative position of the other car- HARRY HOUSEMAN' 5 rier when thelast-mentioned carrier is out of Witnesses:

operative position. M. F. ELLIS,

In testimony of which invention I have M. M. HAMILTON. v

